Trump set to change US-Cuba policy

White House officials say the US president will stop short of fully reversing Obama-era policies.

US President Donald Trump is expected to announce a revised Cuba policy aimed at stopping the flow of US cash to Havana’s military and security services.

However, Trump is also expected to maintain diplomatic relations and to continue allowing US airlines and cruise ships to run services to the island.

Trump will make the announcement on Friday, casting the policy moves as a fulfillment of his campaign promise to reverse his predecessor President Barack Obama’s diplomatic re-engagement with the island, said senior White House officials, who spoke to reporters on condition of anonymity on Thursday. 

Trump’s measures fall short of fully reversing Obama’s policies. 

Under the expected changes, the US will ban US financial transactions with the dozens of enterprises run by Cuba’s military-linked corporation GAESA, which operates dozens of hotels, tour buses, restaurants and other facilities.

Trump is also expected to announce stricter enforcement of the rules under which Americans can travel to Cuba.

American citizens will still be able to take commercial flights to Cuba, but only for 12 specific reasons – ranging from journalism to educational activities – which will be more strictly enforced.

Al Jazeera’s Andy Gallacher reports from Miami.